Tire chains / cables recommendations

[DRCal68]

M&S rated ‘all season’ tires are considered snow tires in California.

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[donstim]

These are what I got. Was able to install them in my driveway and drive a short distance on them okay in dry conditions, but haven't had to use them yet in the snow.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HZFDQ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[dimaj]

yeah, these are the ones I just got...
Decided to get 2 sets (just in case) with tensioners!

Really hope I have wasted the money and won't have to use them.

 

[rpr]

M&S rated ‘all season’ tires are considered snow tires in California.

I was surprised to read this, as I thought most states now require the "3-peak" rating. But sure enough, I looked it up and Caltrans just specifies M&S. (https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-medi...ocuments/winter-driving-working-2019-a11y.pdf)

You might want to read this about the M+S rating:
https://www.capitalone.com/cars/lea...car/what-you-need-to-know-about-ms-tires/1705

I have Winter Studless Michelin ICE X tires that get me up to Mt Hood once or twice a week. Ice, snow, rain, no worries. I keep two sets of Snow Socks in the frunk just in case. They are ODOT approved traction devices.

Same here in Southern Oregon (though just one emergency set of socks) for Mt. Ashland and Siskiyou Summit. Unlike Caltrans, ODOT requires the 3-peak rating:
https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Traction-Tires

One day coming down Mt.A last winter made me a believer. The road had a hard-packed layer of white ice that was super slick, and as I came around a bend there was a long line of stopped vehicles ahead. As I slowed, the tires slipped a little, but I was able to slow gradually and pull to the side a few feet before the bumper in front of me. I looked in my rear view, and there was a Subaru sliding uncontrollably toward me. I braced for the impact, already close to tears because I thought my month-old baby was about to get hit, but luckily for me the Subaru started to spin and went diagonally across the road, missing my bumper by about an inch. It went another 10-20 feet before it stopped. The next vehicle behind me was a big 4WD pickup, so it stopped in time, and I breathed a sigh of relief because that pickup became my protector!

When I was sure it was safe, I got out to survey the situation, and was immediately on my ass. I was wearing winter boots, but the road was so slick they didn't matter. I got up and gingerly walked over to the Subaru, and checked its tires. Sure enough, stock "all-seasons." A lot of people around here buy AWD Subarus and think they can just rely on the stock tires for anything. When the traffic finally started moving again, I saw the vehicles that were involved in the accident that stopped everything, and one embedded in the snow bank was an AWD Subaru. I'd place a large wager that they were just on the stock tires.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I was surprised to read this, as I thought most states now require the "3-peak" rating. But sure enough, I looked it up and Caltrans just specifies M&S. (https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-medi...ocuments/winter-driving-working-2019-a11y.pdf)

You might want to read this about the M+S rating:
https://www.capitalone.com/cars/lea...car/what-you-need-to-know-about-ms-tires/1705



Same here in Southern Oregon (though just one emergency set of socks) for Mt. Ashland and Siskiyou Summit. Unlike Caltrans, ODOT requires the 3-peak rating:
https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Traction-Tires

One day coming down Mt.A last winter made me a believer. The road had a hard-packed layer of white ice that was super slick, and as I came around a bend there was a long line of stopped vehicles ahead. As I slowed, the tires slipped a little, but I was able to slow gradually and pull to the side a few feet before the bumper in front of me. I looked in my rear view, and there was a Subaru sliding uncontrollably toward me. I braced for the impact, already close to tears because I thought my month-old baby was about to get hit, but luckily for me the Subaru started to spin and went diagonally across the road, missing my bumper by about an inch. It went another 10-20 feet before it stopped. The next vehicle behind me was a big 4WD pickup, so it stopped in time, and I breathed a sigh of relief because that pickup became my protector!

When I was sure it was safe, I got out to survey the situation, and was immediately on my ass. I was wearing winter boots, but the road was so slick they didn't matter. I got up and gingerly walked over to the Subaru, and checked its tires. Sure enough, stock "all-seasons." A lot of people around here buy AWD Subarus and think they can just rely on the stock tires for anything. When the traffic finally started moving again, I saw the vehicles that were involved in the accident that stopped everything, and one embedded in the snow bank was an AWD Subaru. I'd place a large wager that they were just on the stock tires.

Physics is physics... humans will be humans.

 

[Vnorvi]

I have Winter Studless Michelin ICE X tires that get me up to Mt Hood once or twice a week. Ice, snow, rain, no worries. I keep two sets of Snow Socks in the frunk just in case. They are ODOT approved traction devices.

I have a performance edition, so basically ford says no chains. BUT I live at 9000 feet in the Rockies, with a drive that is a quarter mile long and uphill. I have snow tires mounted in the winter. Ford spent a lot of engineer time making these cars work well in snow. I have a jeep wrangler also, and over time I’ve come to trust the mustang more than the jeep. I’ve not driven the jeep once yet this winter, including on multiple ski trips. The ford is definitely better. Last week the chain law was in effect and it occurred to me I really should carry around chains. Instead I have ordered the snow socks. I doubt I will ever use them. But the company says they meet the law so it would avoid a ticket,

 

[ChehRob]

Cable chains have pretty narrow profiles, easy to put on and take off. Two pairs of plyer/wrenches will easily remove a broken cable element, and they can then be repaired. Would a pair of those work on a Premium, which has, IIRC, 19 inch wheels? Just being in the car probably would keep us legal going over a pass. Last time I used a pair was about 40 years ago. Modern materials probably mean they would never brake, given normal rare use.

 

[wkf94025]

I've used cable chains successfully on other low-clearance vehicles in the past without issue. My GTPE currently has the original PZero 245/45 R20 tires on it, with the fronts nearing tread minimum. Torn between (1) getting best year-round new tires (for NorCal non-snow driving) and (2) getting some M&S tires, which I would probably switch in/out twice a year. Not keen on storage footprint on a spare set of wheels, but it can be managed. Do any of you cable chain users have the 245/45 R20 profile? Another alternative is get the best NorCal year-round tires (not M&S), buy cable chains (like the Amazon links above), and put cables on only at the CalTrans chain control check point if it ever came to that. Limp past chain control slowly, then remove cables once out of sight. I recognize I could be cited by CHP down the road.

Opinions welcome. I went to Tahoe last week for the first time this winter, and debated Mach-E vs F-350 CC SB 4x4. Chose truck, and had no issues, and zero battery charging stress, obviously, but spent 3x the $ on diesel as I would have on kWH. Experienced snow driver, FWIW. I was a chain monkey in a prior life, and it shows.

 

[4sallypat]

FYI, in California AWD/4WD isn’t enough to bypass chain control. You need snow rated tires. Everyone ignores that part lol.

This is correct.

California CHP will look for tires with the "snowflake on mountain" before they will let you thru their chain control checkpoint without traction devices.

Under R1 conditions, I used to travel up to Mammoth mountain (Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range) and having a set of the snow rated tires allowed passage without chains on the tires.

R2 and up - traction devices required.

 

[Elar]

Hello

Sorry I still don't fully understand
So AWD, 4x4 with 19 wheels
Can I put a snow chain on it or not? (We go to Austria)
If it is possible, is it only on the back wheels? Or on all 4 wheels?

 

[SWO]

I've had good experience with the autosocks snow socks for occasionaluse (1-2x per year). They will get chewed up fast if you drive on dry roads though so stop and take them off right away if the roads clear up.

 

[4sallypat]

Is this the correct size for 19" stock tires?

 

[fleeps]

I switched tires to Michelin CrossClimate2.

 

[rreddy3]

Hello

Sorry I still don't fully understand
So AWD, 4x4 with 19 wheels
Can I put a snow chain on it or not? (We go to Austria)
If it is possible, is it only on the back wheels? Or on all 4 wheels?

Peter, I am attaching a screen shot of one of the pages on snow tires/chains from the Ford USA on line manual for model year 2023. I would encourage you to consult the manual for your model year that is applicable to Mach E‘s sold in Hungary. It may vary from the US manual … or not.

The manual says on non-GT, i.e., Premium or Select, you may use low profile, 10mm or less measured at the sidewall, chains mounted on the OEM tire size and on the rear wheels only. (I am paraphrasing, this isn’t the exact wording, but it’s what the manual means.)

In addition to the Rud chains mentioned by Martin above, you might want to consider the König K Summit. I have a pair of those. Mine are branded Thule. König bought Thule’s chain business a few years ago. Same chain, new owner and brand name.

Of course you have to know and follow the applicable winter driving laws of Hungary, Austria and other countries you may drive in.

 

[rreddy3]

PS, have a nice trip and stay safe! Also, dedicated snow tires are pretty amazing compared to all season or the “three peak” rated tires.

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